This review may contain spoilers
Love Wins All
I absolutely adore this drama. It really resonates with me, and it reminds me so much of two IU songs, Love Wins All and Friday, haha. I’ll dive into why I love it so much in a bit, but first, I want to make one thing clear. This is a slice-of-life drama. Everything that happens feels like everyday life—routine, maybe a small hiccup here and there, but nothing overly dramatic. So, if you’re expecting a fast-paced plot with tons of twists, you might want to skip this one. I totally get why some people find it boring; it’s just not their cup of tea. And that’s fine! But let’s respect those who genuinely enjoy it.
I was scrolling through comments and reviews earlier, and one of them claimed the drama’s high ratings on another platform were from bots or bought with money. Lol, seriously? So, part of why I’m writing this is to say: real people do love this drama. I’m not getting paid to rave about it—if anything, I paid to watch it on the platform! Another thing: the view count for Road Home on Yunhe, which tracks organic online views for dramas in the domestic market, is super impressive—over 40 million views. (For context, plenty of trendy dramas with big-name stars don’t even hit that number.) That shows there’s a solid fanbase for this drama. So yeah, let’s respect different tastes. It might seem bland to some, but it’s far from bad—in fact, it’s special for those of us who vibe with this genre.
Alright, enough of that. Let’s get into the good stuff!
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
In a nutshell, this drama is about two people who were each other’s first love but broke up. Years later, fate brings them back together, and they reconnect, working through small past misunderstandings to build a happy, heartwarming life. If you’re into dramas without complicated misunderstandings or messy love triangles—just pure, natural warmth and sweetness in a mature love story—then you have to watch this. For me, watching this drama feels like curling up on the couch with a blanket in winter, sipping a cozy mug of hot chocolate. It’s soothing, safe, and relaxing. Most importantly, the romance between the main characters doesn’t feel cringey or fake. (I’ve dropped so many hyped-up dramas because the romance felt too forced or plastic, so finding this gem made me genuinely happy.) Oh, and one more thing: the drama has plenty of intimate scenes, and the male lead? Let’s just say he’s a great kisser. So yeah, I’m totally satisfied, lol.
I love how the character Lu Chen is written. He’s loyal, talented at work, and can handle household chores like a pro. But he’s not some perfect guy. His family background is messy, he’s got a bit of a blunt personality, and he’s super quiet—Gui Xiao literally has to nudge him to say more sometimes. I think this makes him feel so real and relatable. In real life, nobody’s perfect.
What’s great is that Jing Bo Ran brings Lu Chen to life so vividly. If an actor doesn’t nail a quiet, stoic character like this, they can easily come off as stiff or boring. I’ve seen it happen in other dramas—honestly, I could name a C-drama right now for comparison if you want, haha—so I know how tricky this role is. Jing Bo Ran does it with these subtle, natural touches: his expressive eyes, small body language cues, all so authentic. It makes Lu Chen feel alive and compelling.
Gui Xiao, the female lead, is an independent, smart woman, but she’s also sensitive and deeply in love. She loves Lu Chen so much, to the point where she’s willing to put up with the challenges of his job affecting their family life. She could easily find a partner who’s always around, keeping her company, instead of waiting weeks or even a month to see her husband. But she chooses Lu Chen. In those moments, I just want to cue IU’s Love Wins All or Friday as the background music, lol. Tan Songyun absolutely nails Gui Xiao’s role—no complaints whatsoever. She’s especially incredible in the emotional scenes, hands-down one of the best young actresses in Cbiz.
A few other things I love about the script: there’s only one short misunderstanding from the past, and it’s resolved gently. In the present, there are no misunderstandings like that. When Gui Xiao’s dad objects to Lu Chen, I was worried it’d turn into some cliché where Lu Chen quietly backs off without telling her. That would’ve been so frustrating. But thank goodness, Lu Chen is resolute and stands firm in his choice. Nothing can stop him and Gui Xiao from being together—it’s their decision, period. There’s a third party that pops up briefly, but it’s a non-issue. Like I said, nothing gets in Lu Chen’s way when it comes to the person he loves, unless Gui Xiao herself calls it quits. This kind of script feels so refreshing.
I absolutely love the dialogue between Lu Chen and Gui Xiao! It’s romantic but not over-the-top cheesy, striking that perfect balance of natural and heartfelt. None of that “domineering CEO” nonsense, no grand vows or dramatic promises—just real. From the character development to the plot and the dialogue, everything ties in beautifully with the slice-of-life vibe of the drama.
And the chemistry between the leads is absolutely incredible. I couldn’t stop smiling during their intimate scenes. Like I mentioned before, Jing Bo Ran is so good in the kissing scenes, so the romantic and intimate moments are honestly a gift from this drama.
The drama’s weak spots mostly come down to the supporting characters. The dialogue in the SWAT team scenes feels like it was lifted straight from a textbook—kind of preachy and not very authentic. But this is a Chinese drama, and I get that they have to tread carefully with anything involving military or political stuff, so I can let it slide. Also, the romantic subplot for the secondary couple isn’t well-developed, but thankfully, it doesn’t take up much screen time. You could skip those parts, and it wouldn’t affect the main storyline at all. Another thing: the family conflict for the male lead is set up nicely but resolved in a rushed, half-hearted way that doesn’t feel real.
All that said, for me, the drama’s strengths far outweigh its flaws. The main romance and the acting—plus the incredible chemistry between the leads—completely steal the show. I was ready to rewatch it the second I finished my first viewing, and I’ll probably watch it again multiple times. This drama has actually made it hard for me to pick another modern C-drama to watch next. I’ve tried a few over the past couple of days, but none of them have the same captivating chemistry or leave the same impression as this one.
Lu Chen, played by Jing Bo Ran, and Gui Xiao, played by Tan Songyun, are hands-down one of my favorite C-drama couples ever.
I was scrolling through comments and reviews earlier, and one of them claimed the drama’s high ratings on another platform were from bots or bought with money. Lol, seriously? So, part of why I’m writing this is to say: real people do love this drama. I’m not getting paid to rave about it—if anything, I paid to watch it on the platform! Another thing: the view count for Road Home on Yunhe, which tracks organic online views for dramas in the domestic market, is super impressive—over 40 million views. (For context, plenty of trendy dramas with big-name stars don’t even hit that number.) That shows there’s a solid fanbase for this drama. So yeah, let’s respect different tastes. It might seem bland to some, but it’s far from bad—in fact, it’s special for those of us who vibe with this genre.
Alright, enough of that. Let’s get into the good stuff!
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
In a nutshell, this drama is about two people who were each other’s first love but broke up. Years later, fate brings them back together, and they reconnect, working through small past misunderstandings to build a happy, heartwarming life. If you’re into dramas without complicated misunderstandings or messy love triangles—just pure, natural warmth and sweetness in a mature love story—then you have to watch this. For me, watching this drama feels like curling up on the couch with a blanket in winter, sipping a cozy mug of hot chocolate. It’s soothing, safe, and relaxing. Most importantly, the romance between the main characters doesn’t feel cringey or fake. (I’ve dropped so many hyped-up dramas because the romance felt too forced or plastic, so finding this gem made me genuinely happy.) Oh, and one more thing: the drama has plenty of intimate scenes, and the male lead? Let’s just say he’s a great kisser. So yeah, I’m totally satisfied, lol.
I love how the character Lu Chen is written. He’s loyal, talented at work, and can handle household chores like a pro. But he’s not some perfect guy. His family background is messy, he’s got a bit of a blunt personality, and he’s super quiet—Gui Xiao literally has to nudge him to say more sometimes. I think this makes him feel so real and relatable. In real life, nobody’s perfect.
What’s great is that Jing Bo Ran brings Lu Chen to life so vividly. If an actor doesn’t nail a quiet, stoic character like this, they can easily come off as stiff or boring. I’ve seen it happen in other dramas—honestly, I could name a C-drama right now for comparison if you want, haha—so I know how tricky this role is. Jing Bo Ran does it with these subtle, natural touches: his expressive eyes, small body language cues, all so authentic. It makes Lu Chen feel alive and compelling.
Gui Xiao, the female lead, is an independent, smart woman, but she’s also sensitive and deeply in love. She loves Lu Chen so much, to the point where she’s willing to put up with the challenges of his job affecting their family life. She could easily find a partner who’s always around, keeping her company, instead of waiting weeks or even a month to see her husband. But she chooses Lu Chen. In those moments, I just want to cue IU’s Love Wins All or Friday as the background music, lol. Tan Songyun absolutely nails Gui Xiao’s role—no complaints whatsoever. She’s especially incredible in the emotional scenes, hands-down one of the best young actresses in Cbiz.
A few other things I love about the script: there’s only one short misunderstanding from the past, and it’s resolved gently. In the present, there are no misunderstandings like that. When Gui Xiao’s dad objects to Lu Chen, I was worried it’d turn into some cliché where Lu Chen quietly backs off without telling her. That would’ve been so frustrating. But thank goodness, Lu Chen is resolute and stands firm in his choice. Nothing can stop him and Gui Xiao from being together—it’s their decision, period. There’s a third party that pops up briefly, but it’s a non-issue. Like I said, nothing gets in Lu Chen’s way when it comes to the person he loves, unless Gui Xiao herself calls it quits. This kind of script feels so refreshing.
I absolutely love the dialogue between Lu Chen and Gui Xiao! It’s romantic but not over-the-top cheesy, striking that perfect balance of natural and heartfelt. None of that “domineering CEO” nonsense, no grand vows or dramatic promises—just real. From the character development to the plot and the dialogue, everything ties in beautifully with the slice-of-life vibe of the drama.
And the chemistry between the leads is absolutely incredible. I couldn’t stop smiling during their intimate scenes. Like I mentioned before, Jing Bo Ran is so good in the kissing scenes, so the romantic and intimate moments are honestly a gift from this drama.
The drama’s weak spots mostly come down to the supporting characters. The dialogue in the SWAT team scenes feels like it was lifted straight from a textbook—kind of preachy and not very authentic. But this is a Chinese drama, and I get that they have to tread carefully with anything involving military or political stuff, so I can let it slide. Also, the romantic subplot for the secondary couple isn’t well-developed, but thankfully, it doesn’t take up much screen time. You could skip those parts, and it wouldn’t affect the main storyline at all. Another thing: the family conflict for the male lead is set up nicely but resolved in a rushed, half-hearted way that doesn’t feel real.
All that said, for me, the drama’s strengths far outweigh its flaws. The main romance and the acting—plus the incredible chemistry between the leads—completely steal the show. I was ready to rewatch it the second I finished my first viewing, and I’ll probably watch it again multiple times. This drama has actually made it hard for me to pick another modern C-drama to watch next. I’ve tried a few over the past couple of days, but none of them have the same captivating chemistry or leave the same impression as this one.
Lu Chen, played by Jing Bo Ran, and Gui Xiao, played by Tan Songyun, are hands-down one of my favorite C-drama couples ever.
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